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MANILA — Palay prices in several Luzon provinces have plunged to alarming lows, with reports of farmgate rates dropping to as little as P5 per kilo, according to a lawmaker. 

During lower House deliberations on the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Bill on Monday, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago warned that the crisis has left rice farmers deeply indebted and struggling to survive.

“Ngayong taon, naitala ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas ang pagbagsak ng presyo ng palay sa pinakamababa nitong antas,” Elago said.

She said that in parts of Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Oriental Mindoro, and Pangasinan, palay was being bought for just P6 to P9 per kilo, with some areas reporting prices as low as P5.

Elago pressed the Department of Agriculture (DA) on what concrete steps were being taken, stressing that current rates are unsustainable.

“Matagal nang umaasa ang ating mga magsasaka dito sa commitment ng DA na itutulak itong 17 pesos kada kilo. Sa katunayan, kulang na kulang pa doon sa kanilang panawagan na dapat nasa P20 pataas, no minimum of 20 pesos per kilo,” she said.

DA budget sponsor Rep. Ana York Bondoc admitted the crisis, conceding that the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) aggravated the fall in prices.

“Palay prices have fallen and that they have not been helped by the rice tarification law,” Bondoc said.

She explained that unrestricted imports, tariff cuts from 35 percent to 15 percent, limited National Food Authority (NFA) capacity, and typhoon damage combined to create an oversupply.

The DA, she said, had already suspended rice imports through Executive Order No. 93 and instructed local governments to buy palay at P17 per kilo.

“We are proposing an executive order requesting the following: Additional budget of P3 billion for additional procurement of storm damage palay and rice, including the rental and, as I mentioned, leasing of warehouse and transport charges," Bondoc said.

"Additionally, the DA has submitted a recommendation proposing a minimum 30 to 60 day ban on importation," she added.

Elago, however, argued that such measures were insufficient and renewed calls for the abolition of the RTL.

"Lalo ho silang nalunod sa utang, lalo ho silang nasalanta ng rice importation, at namamatay talaga ang kanilang kabuhayan. At nasasadlak sa sobrang kahirapan ang ating mga magsasaka,” she said.

Bondoc pushed back against junking the law outright but acknowledged its flaws.

“Production does not mean that farmers made more income. So this is another issue that needs to be discussed thoroughly. So there are good points of the Rice Tarification Act. However, there are also many bad points that need to be addressed,” she said, noting proposals to amend the law and restore NFA’s regulatory powers.

Pressed on when farmers could expect relief, Bondoc admitted the urgency but hedged on certainty.

Aside from procurement support, the DA is also rolling out direct cash assistance. Bondoc confirmed that “Right now, we are giving P7,000 per registered farmer,” but Elago countered that this amount was inadequate.

“May mga proposals po ngayon from various farmers and fisher folk groups na nananawagan ng nasa P20,000 to P25,000 [cash assistance] per registered farmer and fisher folk. Kaya pag-aralan po natin. Mataas na po ang presyo ng mga bagay ngayon. Ibigay natin ang todong suporta sa ating mga magsasaka," she urged.

Source : msn